Multiple winder with automatic reserve thread positioning

ABSTRACT

A thread winding machine of the type having a plurality of winding units and a servicing or tying unit movable along the winding units to tie a reserve thread to the thread extending from the package being wound and to resume the winding operation. A mechanism movable with the tying unit causes a thread tucked in the reserve bobbin core to be blown out of the core. A gripper receives the thread at a point spaced from the bobbin, and a swingable arm picks up the thread extending to the gripper, forms a loop in the thread and positions one leg of the loop in the upper hang-up clamp of the winding unit.

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SHEET 120F 13 PATENTED 3823mm v 1 3565358 MULTIPLE WINDER WITH AUTOMATIC RESERVE THREAD POSITIONING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION being wound, and resume the winding thereof using thread from the reserve bobbin after its transfer to a running position.

The invention has more particular reference to a multiple winder in which an unwound length of thread of each reserve bobbin is tucked downwardly into the nose of the tubular bobbin core or is otherwise held in a well-defined position as the bobbin is deposited in a reserve position in'the pocket.

US. Pat. No. 3,345,004 discloses a mechanism movable with the tying unit and operable as this unit approaches the successive winders to suck the tucked-in thread out of the reserve bobbin core into a tubular arm having means therein for gripping the thread while the arm is swung upwardly to hang the thread in the upper clamp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention represents a substantial improvement over and simplifications of the patented construction. Instead of sucking the unwound reserve thread out of the position in which it is held as the bobbin is deposited in the reserve pocket, this thread is blown out of a tubesuch as the bobbin core, grasped at a point spaced from the bobbin, and the intervening length is drawn upwardly and hung in the upper clamp.

The reserve thread is caught as it is blown out of a tube, deflected and guided along a well-defined path along which it is gripped and secured to the traveler while an intervening length of the blown out thread is being picked up by the free end of an arm on the traveler, which arm, in swinging upwardly, draws additional thread from the reserve bobbin to form the thread between the bobbin and the gripping point into an inverted generally V-shaped loop. After the bight or apex of the V reaches an upper position and the leading leg of the loop has been positioned in the hang-up clamp, the thread is cut, and the other or trailing leg of the loop is sucked out of the way thus leaving the leading or bobbin leg of the loop hung up in the clamp and properly positioned for pickup and tying onto a broken thread of the package being wound in the conventional operation of the approaching traveler. By utilizing the blowing as the initial step in gaining control of the reserve bobbin thread, the various thread engaging elements are of simple construction and disposed outside of the uptake arm so that the unwinding and the hang up may be effected by a hook on the end of the arm.

The invention also resides in the novel manner of blowing the reserve thread out of its initial position, guiding the blown out thread along a predetermined path, utilizing suction to straighten and position the blown out thread while it is being gripped and held and also picked up by the loop drawing arm, swinging the am upwardly in a transverse path correlated with the advance of the traveler for proper entry into the upper clamp, and disposing of the waste and cut off portion of the upwardly drawn loop after the loop has been severed and the bobbin end thereof left hanging from the upper clamp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a vertical sectional view taken approximately along the line 1-1 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation view looking along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are schematic perspective views showing successive steps of the improved method.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the mechanism for blowing a thread out of the bobbin core.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary section taken approximately along the line 10-10 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective of the mechanism for catching and straightening the blown out thread.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are fragmentary sections taken along the lines 13-13 and 14-14 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a broken away and expanded perspective view 0 the vacuum valve controlling the sucking of the blown out thread together with an associated shear.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of the fingers controlling the unwinding of the bobbin thread in the course of drawing an inverted loop.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 17-17 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner of starting the drawing of the inverted loop.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary section taken approximately along the line 19-19 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the mechanism for severing the thread of the inverted loop.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIGS. 8 and 12 showing an alternative construction of the blow tube and the manner of positioning the bobbin thread relative thereto.

FIG. 22 is a chart showing the timing of the different motions involved in blowing out, catching, straightening, drawing the inverted loop, and hanging part thereof in the upper clamp.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Multiple Unit Thread Winder Background of the Present Invention While the invention may be used in various types of multiple winders including those of the automatic bypass and thread retrieving type shown in US. Pat. No. 3,347,479, it is shown in the present instance and for purposes of illustration incorporated in a Barber-Colman Type F spooler in which each of a series of winding units 10 arranged side by side and supported on an elongated frame 11 operates to unwind thread 12 from a bobbin 13 in active position (FIG. I), draw such thread upwardly and wind the same onto a cheese or cone 14 resting on a rotary traversing drum 15. A servicing unit or so-called traveler 16, including a frame 20, a knotter 17 having a rotary hook (FIGS. 1 and 2), end finding rolls, thread clamp ac tuating and reserve bobbin skewering cams as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 1,657,407, moves continuously around the loop of the winding units 10 and operates on successive ones to unite a broken thread of the cheese to a thread of a reserve bobbin 18, move the latter into active position, and resume the winding of the cheese from this bobbin.

In the spooler shown, the core of the cheese 14 is journaled on a horizontal arm 19 projecting toward the traveler path from a fulcrum 21 on the upper end of a carrier 22 pivoted at 23 on the frame 11 to allow the cheese to be carried off from the drum to a position B shown in phantom in FIG. I and then on to the position C shown in dotted line for servicing by the traveler 16. The frame 20 of the latter overhangs and is guided along a rail 24 at the top 25 of the frame 11 and carries a motor 26 which, through suitable gearing 26a, drives a pinion 27 meshing with the teeth of an overhead rack 28 rigid with the frame 11 and extending around the loop of winding units.

Each winding unit also includes an upwardly opening pocket 29 in which reserve bobbins 18 are deposited manually or automatically with the thread mass 31 thereof lying against the upwardly and outwardly inclined front wall 32 of the pocket (FIGS. 8 and 10). The lower end 33 of the tubular bobbin core 34 rests on and straddles a slot 35 in a bottom plate 36. In the winding position (see FIG. each supply bobbin 13 is supported by the head 37 of a skewer 38 projecting upwardly through the slot in the plate 36 by which the bobbin is doffed upon retraction of the skewer. Such retraction is effected by a plow 40 (FIGS. 2, 10 and 11) on the traveler frame 20 having an inclined leading end 400 which, shortly after the tying operation, engages the upper end 39 of the spring-loaded plunger 41 to depress the plunger which, through a rack 42 and a pinion 43 turns a crank 44 counterclockwise to reuact the skewer far enough to release and doff the bobbin 34a as shown in FIG. 11.

As the plunger is depressed further, the skewer is swung about a shaft 45 as a pivot into axial alignment with the lower end of the reserve bobbin 18, the skewer being raised and its head 37 inserted in the bobbin end when the crank reaches the position shown in FIG. 11. Then, after the cam 40 has passed the plunger 41, a spring 46 raises the plunger and swings the skewer and the bobbin thereon along the slot 35 to the active position (FIG. 10), the overall skewering action being described fully in the aforesaid patents.

On the upper end of a bracket 47 upstanding from the top of each pocket 29 is a clamp 48 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6) including an outwardly facing jaw 49 paralleling the traveler path and fixed to the bracket. Coacting with this jaw is a movable jaw 51 on the side of a lever 52 fulcrumed at 53 on the bracket and projecting opposite to or upstream of the traveler motion, this jaw being urged toward and normally held against the fixed jaw by a spring 54. The free end of the lever is inclined relative to the fixed jaw and cooperates therewith to provide a throat 55 for receiving and guiding a leg of the upwardly drawn loop of the reserve thread into the clamp 48 and leave a length 56 hung up in the closed clamp and thus positioned properly as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 for pickup in the course of the thread uniting operation by the traveler (FIGS. 2 and 7). A short and free length 56a (FIGS. 2 and 7) is left above the clamp 48. Each clamp is so disposed relative to the traveler path that the inclined end 57 is engaged, swung laterally, and then released at the proper time during the passing of a cam or plow 58 fixed to the traveler frame (FIGS. 5-7). Later, during the tying cycle, the clamp 48 is similarly opened and closed by a passing cam 60 on the traveler (FIG. 2).

In the Type F spooler, breakage or exhaustion of the running thread 12 causes tripping of a latch 61 (FIG. 1), allowing shifting of the carrier 22 into the braking position B where the rotation of the cheese is stopped. Then, the passing traveler shifts the cheese farther into the tying position C, finds the free end of the thread on the cheese, pays off slack for the tying operation, opens the clamp 48 and picks up the reserve thread 56, ties the ends of the cheese and reserve threads together, moves the cheese back to the running position A, and finally actuates the skewer to doff the former bobbin and transfer the reserve bobbin into the active winding position. Servicing of the successive idle winding units is effected automatically and winding thereby resumed. Another reserve bobbin is placed in the pocket thus emptied before the traveler completes another circuit around the loop of side by side winding units.

Several of the operations performed by the traveler in servicing the successive winding units involve subjecting the broken and reserve threads at various times to a vacuum or a blast of compressed air. For these purposes, an air compressor 62 and a vacuum pump 63 shown schematically in FIGS. 8 and 12, are mounted on the traveler frame and operating through motor 26 with compressed air and vacuum pipes 64 and 65 leading to the various points of use in the advance of the traveler in approaching and passing the successive winding units. The airflow in each instance is controlled by a suitable valve actuated by or in timed relation to the traveler motion. A receptacle 66 (FIG. 12) is interposed in the line 65 and operates to trap and collect waste threads sucked into this line.

The Invention in General In accordance with the present invention, each reserve bobbin 18 as deposited in a pocket 29 has a length 67 of thread (see FIGS. 3 and 10) unwound from the main mass 31 and held in a definite position relative to the latter and to a tube through which the thread may be blown by a blast of air 69 directed endwise through the tube. Preferably and in the form shown in FIGS. 1 to 20, the tubular core 34 of the bobbin effects the thread positioning, the unwound length 67 of the thread extending upwardly from the mass 31 and being tucked downwardly into the nose 68 of the bobbin through the major length thereof as shown in FIGS. 3, 8 and 10.

Removal of the tucked-in thread from the holding tube as contemplated by the present invention is achieved by directing the blast 69 of air into the lower end 33 of the reserve bobbin core 34 to blow the tucked-inend 67 upwardly and out of the core (see FIG. 3), catching the blown out thread 67a, and deflecting and guiding the same toward a valve opening 70 subjected to a vacuum whereby the thread is sucked endwise through the opening and thus straightened out as in icated at 67b and positioned along a predetermined path shown in phantom in FIG. 3, gripping the straightened thread at the opening, engaging the thread adjacent the gripping point (FIG. 4) while drawing the intervening length between the bobbin and the gripping point upwardly to unwind additional 2 thread from the bobbin, start the upward drawing as shown in phantom in FIG. 5 and complete the drawing as shown in full of an inverted and downwardly opening loop 71, depositing the leading leg 67f of this loop into the clamp 48 (FIG. 6), and severing the thread (FIG. 7) at a point disposed between the bight 71a and the clamp 48 after closing of the latter. Finally, the cut off or trailing end portion 673 of the loop is sucked out of the way.

The means for performing nearly all of the foregoing steps are carried by and mounted for movement relative to an ex tension of the traveler frame 20 projecting forwardly from the tying unit thereof as shown in FIG. 2 so as to be brought into operative positions as the traveler approaches each idle winding unit. A shaft 75 (FIGS. 1 and 2) journaled on the frame parallel to the traveler path carries a series of cams 76 which control the actuation of the various parts involved in straightening, positioning and gripping the blown out thread, drawing the same into the inverted loop and picking and hang ing up the leading part of this loop in the clamp 48. The sequence of the different operations performed on the reserve thread of one of the winders 10 is shown on the chart (FIG. 22), the parts of which are indicated by reference numerals identified by the letter c.

Blowing Out the Thread The air blast for blowing the unwound thread length upwardly and out of each reserve bobbin core is derived from the pipe 64 supplied at an adequate flow rate from the compressor 62 and directed into the lower end 33 of the bobbin core which end, as the reserve bobbin rests in the pocket 29, is exposed through the slot 35 when the skewer 38 is in the winding position as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10. The blast is discharged from a nozzle 77 at the lower end of a blow tube 78 whose right-angular end portion 79 is fixed to a bracket 80 on the upstanding arm 81 of a right-angular bellcrank 82 journaled on the shaft 45. The latter extends across the pocket and, as above described, also forms the pivot of the skewer.

The other bellcrank arm is inclined downwardly and is pivotally connected by a link 83 to the end of the skewer crank 44 and the lower end of the skewer. The arrangement is such that in the swinging of the skewer into alignment with the reserve bobbin 18 to pick up this bobbin, the blow tube nozzle 77 is swung out of the way and to the position shown in FIG. 11. To permit such swinging of the nozzle, the major length (see FIG. 8) of the blow tube 78 is made flexible as indicated at 78a. This part is coupled to a rigid fitting 84 secured as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 to the downstream sidewall of the pocket 29 and having an upwardly facing opening 85 which defines the blow tube inlet and is disposed just below the top of the bobbin pocket and projects forwardly therefrom. In the direction of advance of the traveler, this inlet which is defined by a downwardly converging tubular wall 86 is somewhat longer than a downwardly projecting nozzle 87 disposed in a plane just abovethe blow tube inlet and fixed to the traveler frame 20 in a position to pass over the inlet 85 in the advance of the traveler and register with this inlet as shown in FIG. 8 when the traveler reaches a predetermined position in appreaching each winder 10.

The nozzle 87 is formed by the end of a Z-shaped pipe 88 whose other end is pressed into the casing 89 of a valve 90 having an inlet pipe 91 communicating with the compressed air supply line 64. A bar 92 is slidable in the casing to bringa hole 93 therein into and out of alignment with the adjacent ends 88a and 91a of the pipes 88 and 91 to permit and interrupt (FiGS. 8 and 9) the flow of air to'the nozzle 87. Through a bellcrank 94 pivoted at 95 on the frame 20 and a link 96, the valve slide is connectedto a bellcrank 97 fulcrumed on the traveler and carrying the follower 98 of a'cam 100 fixed to the shaft 75. A spring 101 holds the follower against the cam and urges the valve closed as shown in FIG. 8. When, in the ad vance of the traveler, the nozzle 87 becomesaligned with the blow tube inlet 85 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, a lobe 100a on the cam engages and raises the follower 98 thus opening the valve 90 at c (FIG. 22) to cause an air blast to be directed downwardly through the tube 78 and upwardly through the noule 77 and the bobbin core 34. By this short blast which is terminated at 11c as the lobe passes the follower, the tucked in thread 67 is blown upwardly and out of the bobbin core.

Catching Straightening and Positioning the Blown Out Thread In being blown upwardly and out of the bobbin core, the unwound thread, indicated at 67a, enters an inlet 102 larger than the bobbin nose 68 at the end of the curved end portion 103 of a tubular and trumpet-shaped catcher 104 (see FIGS. 3, 12, 13) carried by the traveler and having a trailing end portion 105 of smaller cross section paralleling the traveler path. An arm 106 projecting from the catcher is secured at 107 (FIGS. 12 and 17) to a Z-shaped bracket 108 secured at 1084 (FIG. 12) to the casing 109 later to be described, depending from g the traveler frame (FIG. 2) at the forward end of the tying unit 17 of the traveler. The catcher is thus fixed in a position to dispose the inlet 102 in a plane near the noses 68 of the reserve bobbins and for registry as shown in FIGS. 3, 12 and 13 with each bobbin nose at the time when the air blast is directed upwardly through the bobbin core. The inlet 102 for catching the blown out thread is elongated in the direction of its advance so as to register with the bobbin nose throughout the duration of the air blast.

The internal wall 111 (FIG. 13) of the catcher remote from the bobbin nose is curved through a right angle and acts on the thread to deflect the same, first laterally from the bobbin and then along the straight portion 103a and out of the end 105 thereof in a direction upstream relative to the traveler path.

Along the full length of the tubular catcher on the bobbin or underside thereof is a slot 112 which permits the blown out thread to escape laterally and thus be freed from the catcher.

As the tucked in thread leaves the bobbin nose and is drawn upwardly into the catcher by the passing air, some additional thread may be unwound from the mass 31. The amount of such unwinding will vary with different bobbins depending on the point where the thread leaves the main mass. In all cases, the total length of the thread 67 blown out of and unwound from the bobbin is, under the action of the air blast, sufficient to extend well beyond the outlet 105 of the catcher as shown at 672; in FIGS. 3, 12 and 13.

Spaced a short distance behind and aligned with this outlet is a valve opening 70 which comprises a hole in a plate 113 extending crosswise of the traveler path and bolted at 114 to the bracket 108 (FIGS. 12, 13 and 17) and spaced from a face 115 thereof. Between the plate and the face and in loose sliding engagement therewith is a flat segment 116 fulcrumed at 117 and having a hole 118 therethrough which, in the position of the segment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, is aligned with the opening in the plate and a hole 119 in the face of the bracket. A tube 121 extends upstream from the bracket hole 119 and is connectable to the vacuum supply line 65 through the casing 109 of a valve 122.'Thus, when the segment hole 118 is aligned with the holes 70 and 119 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the outlet 102 of the catcher 104 is subjected to a vacuum of sufficient magnitude to suck into and through the holes, the unwound thread 67a deflected by and blown through the catcher beyond the outlet thereof. Such entry of the thread is facilitated by tapering the defining wall of the opening 70 as shown in FIG. 13. Under the influence of the vacuum within and behind this opening 70 at 120, the thread is straightened at 67d and pulled at 67b (FIG. 13) into the tube 121 a distance determined by the amount of thread that is unwound from the bobbin under the force of the air blast.

In'being blown out of the catcher, the thread passes over a finger 123 fixed at 107 to a part of the bracket 108 and projecting across and beneath the thread, a portion of the thread 670 resting on the finger adjacent the upturned end 124. thereof as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. This finger is disposed at the level of the lower edge of the opening 70 and is spaced a short distance ahead of the latter in the direction of traveler advance so that the intervening short length 67d of the thread is supported in an accurately defined horizontal position.

The plate 113 and the segment 116' coact to form a gripper or clamp 125 for grasping and holding the straightened thread to permit upward drawing of the inverted loop 71 as later described. To thisend, the defining edge of the hole 118 in the segment is of rounded cross section as shown in FIGS. 13 and 17 so that, by swinging of the segment out of the position shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the thread is pinched between the segment and the plate as shown in FIG. 17 and thus held securely. Such swinging of the segment occurs at 12c and is effected by upward movement of a link 127 (FIG. 12) pivotally connected to the segment at 126 and swinging the latter clockwise about its pivot 117 on the bracket 108. At its upper end, the link is connected to the free end of an arm 128 pivoted at 129 on the frame 20 and carrying a follower 130 which is held upwardly by a spring 131 against a cam 132 on a countershaft 133 journaled in a bearing bracket 134 on the traveler frame. Through pinions 135 and 135a and an idler gear 136, the countershaft 133 is driven from and at the same speed as the main camshaft 75 (FIGS. 2 and 12). The cam 132 has an abrupt fall 132a causing quick shifting of the segment and clamping the thread at 13c, the cam opening the gripper to release the thread at 14c.

Connection of the suction tube 121 to the pipe 65 and vacuum pump 63 is through the valve 122 (FIGS. 12, 14 and 15) whose casing 109 is f xed to the traveler frame 20. A bar 137 extends into and is guided in the casing as shown in FIG. 15 for vertical movement into a lower valve open position (FIG. 14) in which a hole 138 in the slide is in axial alignment with a hole 139 in a casing wall 140. The latter divides the casing into two respective valve chambers 141 and 142 communicating with the suction tube 121 and in communication with the vacuum line 65 leading to the waste thread collector 66 (FIG. 12). Connected to the chamber 142 opposite the line 65 is still another pipe 1 43 later to be described and in continuous communication with the vacuum line.

In successive half-revolutions of the countershaft 133, the valve slide 137 is raised at to close the valve 122 (FIG. 15 and lowered at to effect opening of the valve (FIG. 14) by a crank 144 fast on the end of the shaft 133. Thus, the valve opening 70 of the gripper 125 is subjected to the vacuum when the valve 122 is open at time 150 (FIG. 22).

If, in the course of unwinding thread from the bobbin and blowing the same through the catcher 104 and into and along the tube 121 (FIG. 12), this thread 67b is long enough to be sucked through the valve 122 (FIG. while the latter is open at 15c, provision is made for severing the thread in chamber 141 during the closing of the valve so that the extended end portion 67e in the chamber 142 is sucked away immediately through the tube 65 and into the waste collector 66. This is accomplished by a shear 146 (see FIGS. 14 and 15) having a stationary blade 147 fixed to the casing wall 140 and a coacting movable blade 148 pivoted at 149 having an arm 150 pin 152 and slot 151 connected to the valve slide 137. As the slide is raised in closing the valve at 150, the shear is closed at 170 thus severing the thread just before the valve is fully closed as shown in FIGS. 15 and 22.

Picking Up The Straightened Thread and Drawing the Same Into an Inverted Loop While the blown out and straightened thread is held as above described by the gripper 125 and supported on the finger 123 (FIG. 13), the intervening length 67d is picked up by a hook 155 (FIGS. 4, 5, 18 and 19) on the free end of an arm 156 and, after closing of the gripper at 13c, is drawn upwardly at 18c to unwind additional thread from the bobbin and form this thread into an inverted generally V-shaped loop 71 with the leading end portion or leg 67f extending downwardly to the bobbin and a trailing end portion or leg 67g leading downwardly to the gripper as shown by dotted and full lines in FIG. 5.

As seen in FIGS. 18 and 19, the uptake arm 156 has a hub 157 fixed to a shaft 158 extending parallel to the traveler path and journaled in bearings 159 on the traveler frame. Adjacent the hub, the am is straight as indicated at 156a while the free end portion 156b projects backwardly or upstream along the traveler path substantially at right angles to the hub portion. The hook 155 comprises a flat strap 160 rigid with and projecting downwardly from one edge 156d of the free end when the arm is horizontal as shown in FIG. 18. The free end portion 161 of the strap 160 is bent reversely and inclined partially across the arm end and halfway toward the latter. A round bend 161a is thus formed at the end of the hook which opens toward the arm end 156d. A substantially parallel short strap 163 projects in the same direction from the other side of the arm end 156d and is formed at its free end with a curl 163a spaced from the hook bend 161 a and cooperating therewith to form a throat 165 for guiding the entry of the thread and trapping the same in the bight 155a of the hook which opens upwardly and toward the arm end 156d as the arm reaches its lowermost position (FIG. 19). The length of the end portion 156b of the uptake arm is correlated with the speed of advance of the traveler so that the leading leg 67f of the loop when presented at the proper time 200 to the full line position of FIG. 5 is disposed upstream from the throat 55 of the clamp 48 for entry into said throat in the advance of the traveler.

Swinging of the arm downwardly and upwardly is effected positively by cams 166 (FIG. 18) on the main camshaft 75 acting on followers 167 on a bellcrank 168 fulcrumed at 169 on the traveler frame. The teeth of a gear segment 170 forming one arm of the bellcrank mesh with a pinion 171 fast on the arm supporting shaft 158. The cams are shaped to swing the arm downwardly at 19c to the lowermost position 18c shown in full in FIG. 19 and then upwardly at 200 to the position shown in phantom. The length of the arm and the position of the hook 155 thereon are correlated with the downward swinging of the arm so that as the arm approaches its lower position (see FIG. 4), the throat 165 straddles the thread 67d supported by the finger 123 and the edge of the hole 70, the thread being guided into the throat by the opposed converging surfaces of the strap end 160 of the hook and the curl 163a as the rounded bend 161a of the hook passes the thread which is cammed laterally somewhat as it rides along the inclined free end 161. Being under some tension produced by thesuction through the hole 70, the thread springs back as the free end 161 passes. The thread is thus trapped in the bight 155a of the hook 155 as shown in FIGS. 4, 13 and 19.

As the upward swinging of the arm is started at 180, the segment 116 of the gripper is actuated at 13c thus clamping the thread to the traveler frame. With the thread thus held at a point spaced from the bobbin and behind the hook (FIG. 17), additional thread must be unwound from the bobbin in order to form the inverted loop as the hook is swung upwardly. To insure such unwinding without danger of breakage, a guide 172 engageable with the thread between the bobbin and the loop drawing hook and near the latter is moved into active position and holds the thread substantially in axial alignment with the bobbin as it is being unwound endwise from the latter during upward drawing of the inverted loop (FIGS. 4 and 5). In the present instance, this payoff guide comprises a horizontal finger 173 (FIGS. 4-6, 16 and 17) disposed adjacent the underside of the bracket 108 and supported by a pivot 174 thereon to swing clockwise (FIGS. 4' and 17) from an inactive position shown in dotted line to an active position shown in full. In the course of such movement, the hook-shaped end 173a of the finger hooks around the thread 67a between the bobbin and the uptake hook 155 and maintains the thread between the horizontal finger and the bobbin in axial center line alignment 175 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 17) with the bobbin.

The finger is swung back and forth by endwise movement of a link 176 pivotally connected to the finger at a point 177 offset from the pivot 174. The other end of the link (see FIG. 16) is connected to the free end of a crank 178 fast on a vertical shaft 179 journaled at 180 on the traveler frame and urged clockwise by a torsion spring 181. A pinion 182 on the shaft meshes with an idler pinion 183 which in turn meshes with teeth on a segment 184 pivoted at 185 and coupled at 184a to the lower end ofa lever 186 which carries a follower 187 at its upper end. The follower rides a cam 188 fixed to the camshaft 75 and shaped to swing the finger at 21c clockwise from its inactive position to the active position shown in FIGS. 4, l6 and 17. The thread is thus bent into alignment with the bobbin and so held during upward drawing of the loop 71 while the needed additional thread is being unwound endwise from the bobbin and guided by the active finger.

Hanging the Bobbin End of the Loop into the Upper Clamp In the upward swinging of the uptake arm to its uppermost position shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 20 and in phantom in FIG. 19, the bight 71a of the loop 71 defined by and held in the hook 155 is carried over and above the reserve thread clamp 48 a short distance upstream from the throat 55 of the clamp. In approaching this position, the bobbin or leading leg 67f of the loop enters the outwardly open throat 190 of a shear 191 which is disposed just above the level of and behind the reserve clamp 48 and the plow 58 on the traveler which opens the clamp. As best shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the shear comprises a blade 192 fixed to and projecting outwardly from a part of the traveler and carrying the pivot 193 for the movable blade 194. A short arm 195 on.the latter projects along the traveler path and is coupled at 196 to a lever 197 fulcrumed intermediate its ends at 198 on the frame and linked to the depending arm of a bellcrank 199 whose follower 201 is held against a cam 202 (FIG. 20) by a spring 203. The cam mounted on shaft 75 is shaped with a lobe 2020 to close and open the shear at 22c and 23c while the uptake arm is in its uppermost position.

The shear is positioned on the traveler with its throat 190 disposed in the path of the leading leg 67f of the loop so as to receive this thread as the hook 155 approaches its upper position (FIG. 20) and passes over the shear. Before the hook reaches its final position, the thread comes against a stop 190a defining the bottom of the throat between the blades, the bight 71a of the inverted loop 71 being bent inwardly beyond the stop as shown in FIGS. 5,6 and 20.

When the payoff finger 172 has moved at 240 out of active position and the hook is approaching its upper position, means located a short distance-below the level of the clamp 48 is moved inwardly to bend the leading thread leg 67f of the loop inwardly and trap and hold the upper length thereof ina vertical plane paralleling the traveler path as shown in FIGS. 6 and 19. In this position, this thread length, which after severing of the loop 71 becomes the hung-up thread 56 above referred to, will enter properly into the throat 55 of the upper clamp 48 while the latter is held open by' the plow 58 as shown in FIG. 6. This length becomes the upper part of the unwound reserve thread 56 left hung-up in the clamp after severing of the loop 71 near the bight 71a. A short and free length 56a of the thread remains above the clamp as shown in FIG. 7.

Herein, the means for thus trapping the thread includes a finger 205 (FIGS. 5, 6, 16 and 19) fixed to a hub 206 journaled on an upright shaft 207 on the traveler frame and, during the initial part of the loop drawing, projecting outwardly and transversely of the traveler path ahead of the leading leg 67 f of the loop as the latter is being drawn upwardly as shown in FIG. 5.

Fixed to the hub 206 is a pinion 208 meshing with the teeth of a segment 209 fast on a vertical shaft 210 joumaled on the frame at 211 (FIGS. 16 and I9) and urged counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 16 by a compression spring 212 acting between the segment and a supporting abutrnent ,213 on the frame. A crank 214 fast on the upper'end of the shaft is linked to an arm of a bellcrank 215 journaled on a shaft 216 and having a follower arm 217 whose follower 218 rides on and is urged by the spring 212 against the periphery of a cam 219 on the shaft 75. The cam is shaped to hold the finger 205 in its inactive position (FIG. and in phantom in FIG. 6) until the loop is fully drawn and then, at 250 to retract the follower 217 and permit the spring to swing the finger clockwise to the active position shown in FIG. 6 when a lug 206a on the hub comes against a stop 220 on the frame 20 (FIGS. 16 and 20).

In this movement, the finger 20S engages the thread 67f and bends the same inwardly against the outer side 221 of a bar 222 fixed to the frame and disposed in the vertical plane of the upper clamp. In this position of the finger, its free end is disposed below the stop edge as shown in FIG. 6, and the posi tion of the part of the thread leg 67f which is to be left hung up in the clamp is positioned accurately by the shear stop 190a and the bar edge 221.

In the continued advance of the traveler with the parts positioned as shown in FIG. 6, the vertical part of the thread leg 67 1" will be carried along the bar edge 221 and into the throat of the upper clamp 48 by the time 26c that the plow 58 (FIGS. 6 and 19) on the traveler engages the movable jaw 51 of the clamp and cams the latter to open position as shown in FIG. 6. As the plow passes the follower 57 and allows the clamp to close at 270, the shear is closed at 22c to sever the thread 56a as shown in FIG. 7 and leave the above-described length 56 of unwound thread from the reserve bobbin hung up in the closed clamp 48.

At the same time and at 28c, the cam 219 swings the finger 205 back to inactive position (FIGS. 5, 7 and 16) against the force of the spring 212. By this time, the thread will have passed along the edge 221 of the guide bar and behind the opposing edge 223 on a horizontal guide bar 224 secured to the top of the bobbin pocket as shown in FIG. 7. As the finger 205 is retracted, the thread will be tensioned against the edge 223 and enter a notch 225 when it reaches the latter. The vertically disposed thread length 56 is thus held against displacement by air currents so as to be disposed for proper engagement, shown to the left in FIG. 2 and in phantom in FIG. 19, by the hook 17a of the knotter 17 in the course of the sub sequent thread uniting cycle of the passing traveler.

Disposal of Waste End of the Loop After severing the thread of the inverted loop 71 as above described, the other or trailing end portion 673 of the loop must be disposed of. To prepare for such disposal, part of the thread of the trailing leg 67g of the loop on the downstream side of the closed gripper 125 is led, during drawing of the inverted loop, into an elongated suction chamber 228 (FIGS. 5-

7, 18 and 19) within a casting 229 which is secured to the leading side of the valve casing 109 (FIG. 18) by a bracket 230 to the bracket 108. The chamber extends upwardly from an inlet point 231 (FIG. 19) near the gripper 125 and then curves inwardly transversely of the traveler path and along the line of drawing of the loop leg 67g, terminating at 232 short of the upper clamp 48 and near the shear 191. Along its full length, the top wall of the casting is formed with a slot 233 which extends the full length of the chamber and is positioned to admit, during drawing of the loop 71, the thread which forms the trailing end portion 67g of the eventual inverted loop (FIGS. 5 and 6).

In the initial upward movement of the hook 155, that portion of the thread adjacent the then-closed gripper 125 moves in behind a curved projection 234 (FIG. 18) on a plate 235 secured to and extending upwardly along the outer wall of the casting ahead of the inlet part of the slot 231. Thus, as the hook swings upwardly, that portion of the thread adjacent the gripper engages and is cammed by this projection into the lower end of the slot, is thus led into the chamber 228, and extends out of the slot at progressively higher points as the hook moves upwardly. Finally, as shown in FIG. 20, and when the hook reaches its upper position, the thread 673 extends out of the upper end of the chamber and slot and rests on a guide finger 236 on which the upper end of the thread end is supported during final formation of the loop 71.

The chamber'228 is continuously connected to the vacuum source 65 through the tube 143 extending into the trailing side of the chamber 142 of the valve 122 (FIGS. 14, 15 and 18). Thus the portion 67b of the straightened thread previously held in the tube '121 by the closed gripper 125, will be released upon opening of the gripper at 140, this occurring prior to the severing of the loop high! 710 by the shear at 220. As soon as the thread 67b is thus freed, it and the adjacent part of the trailing leg 673 will be sucked through the chamber 228 and into the tube 143 as shown in FIG. 20. Then, when the shear is closed to sever the loop (FIG. 7), the remaining and upper part of the trailing leg 67g will be sucked through the chamber and into the pipe 143, the entire length of waste thread indicated at 67h being drawn rapidly into the waste collector 66.

It is desirable to start the release of the gripper 125 at 300 before the uptake arm 156 reaches its upper position at 200 to complete the drawing of the loop 71. Upon such release, the trailing leg 67g of the loop is sucked into the chamber 228 and thus free so as to avoid the necessity of further unwinding thread from the reserve bobbin in completing the drawing of the loop 71. After such release, the suction exerted on the trailing leg 67g of the loop will maintain the full length of the unwound reserve thread under enough tension to maintain the leading leg 67 taut and thus positioned properly while it is entering and being hung up in the clamp 48.

Alternative Method of Blowing Out Reserve Thread The air blast method above described of picking up, straightening and hanging up the threads of successive reserve bobbins in a multiple winder may also be used with reserve bobbins in which the unwound threads are held in other fixed positions relative to the thread masses 31 after the bobbins have been deposited in reserve pockets 29. One such alternative shown in FIG. 21 is especially adapted for use with bobbins manually doffed in the conventional way and each having a free thread end 67m lying alongside the mass 31.

Positioning of each unwound thread for blowing into the catcher 104 for straightening such .thread and hanging the same up in the clamp 48 as above described involves the use of a blow tube 238 which is L-shaped in the present instance with one end portion 23% secured to the fitting 84 above described of the winding unit and communicating with the up- The other end portion 2380 of the blow tube projects outwardly and horizontally transversely of the path of the traveler and the inlet 102 of the catcher 104 opens inwardly and is positioned on the traveler to align with the tube outlet 238a when the air blast is, as above described, delivered from the noule 87, into the inlet 86 and through the tube 238. intermediate its ends and on the top and upstream side, the tube portion 2380 is cut away to form a notch 239 into and across which the bobbin thread may be laid and thus disposed in the path of the air blast directed through the tube. An open ended slot 239a extending along the upstream side of the tube 2380 between the bottom of the notch and the tube end 238a permits escape of the thread as it is blown through the tube.

Secured to the fitting 84 somewhat above the level of the tube 238 is an upwardly opening auxiliary clamp 241 having a jaw 242 fixed to the fitting and an upstanding jaw 243 urged against the fixed jaw by a spring 244. This clamp is disposed downstream from the notch 239 and spaced a short distance inwardly therefrom. Simultaneously with the blowing of air through the tube 238, the inclined leading end of a plow 245 engages the upper end of the jaw 243 and cams the same outwardly thus opening the clamp at 29c and releasing the free end of the bobbin thread.

in the course of loading a reserve bobbin into an empty pocket 29, the operator finds and grasps the thread end 67m, draws it upwardly from the mass 31 of the bobbin as deposited in the pocket and past the tube 2380 on the upstream side thereof. Then, in a downstream motion, the thread is laid over the top of the tube and into the notch 239 as the free end portion is moved downwardly into the upwardly opening throat of the auxiliary clamp 241 and forced in between the springloaded jaws thereof. The unwound thread is thus located in a well-defined position with the bobbin portion 67j extending upwardly from the mass 31, the intermediate portion 67k disposed in and across the notch 239, and the free end 671 held in the clamp 241. A short length of the thread is thus disposed within the tube and extends across the path of the air blown through the tube.

Under the force of this blast, the end portion of the thread then released from the clamp 241 is blown out through the end 2380 of the tube 238. By virtue of the open ended slot 239, the unwound bobbin thread escapes and the full length hereof is blown through the outer end of the tube and into the inlet of the catcher 104. The latter acts in the manner above described to deflect the blown out thread and direct the same to the valve opening 70 and into the influence of the vacuum, the same as in the manner described above.

Summary of Advantages By employing the air blast to blow each reserve thread out of its held position relative to the reserve bobbin, nothing touches the reserve bobbin or its core, and none of the parts other than the simple hook 155 involved in the hang-up, is required to be carried by the uptake arm 156. The thread engaging parts may be formed with much less accuracy than heretofore and yet, by the blowing, catching, suction straightening, and loop drawing, are adapted to gain positive control of the unwound bobbin thread and hang the same in an accurately defined position in the clamp 48. Thus, a wide variety of sizes and kinds of threads may be handled while insuring that the hang-up thread will become associated properly with the end finding and thread uniting mechanisms of the traveler. An optimum number of the winding units passed by the traveler will be restarted thus increasing the overall efficiency of the multiple winder.

lclaim:

1. The method of unwinding thread from a reserve bobbin in a multiple winder of the character described and hanging the thread in a clamp spaced from the nose of the bobbin, an unwound length of the thread being tucked downwardly into the bobbin core, said method including the steps of,

a. directing a blast of air into the lower end of said core to blow the tucked-in end upwardly and out of the core,

LII

b. guiding the blown out thread to direct the same away from the bobbin along a predetermined path,

c. subjecting the thread beyond the point of guiding to a vacuum exerting an endwise pull on the thread whereby to straighten out the thread and position the free length thereof along said path,

d, gripping and holding the thread at a point spaced along said path from the bobbin,

e. drawing the length of thread between the bobbin and the gripping point laterally out of said path to unwind additional thread from the bobbin and form such thread into a generally V-shaped loop,

f. depositing the leading leg of said loop into said clamp, and

g. severing the thread at a point disposed between said gripping point and said clamp and near the latter.

2. The method defined in claim 1 in which the force of said air blast as exerted on said thread is sufficient to carry the leading end of the blown out thread along said path and beyond said gripping point.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 including the additional step of releasing the gripping force on said thread, and sucking the released end portion of thread out of the way after the severing of the loop.

4. The method as defined in claim 3 including the step of enclosing, during drawing of said loop, the side of the loop between the gripping and drawing points, and subjecting the enclosed thread to a vacuum for drawing the cutoff portion of the thread out of the way upon release of the gripping force.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 in which the suction force for drawing the blown out thread into said predetermined path is applied to the thread near said gripping point and is directed along a line including said gripping point and said path.

6. For use in a multiple winder of the character described in which a traveler including a tying unit moves past winding units arranged side by side and services each idle winder to restart the winding of thread thereby from a reserve bobbin disposed in a stationary upwardly opening pocket disposed below a clamp in which an unwound length of the reserve thread may be hung, the combination of, means incorporated in each winding unit and holding said unwound thread in a predetermined position relative to the main mass of the bobbin including a tube within which at least part of said unwound thread is so disposed that all of such thread may be blown endwise out of one end of the tube, means for producing a blast of air and directing the same into the other end of said tube and through the latter against the thread therein with sufficient force to blow the thread endwise through and out of the tube, a gripper operable to receive and grasp the blown out thread at a point spaced from said main mass, and means engageable with the blown out thread between said main mass and said gripper and operable to draw su'ch thread upwardly to and hang the same in said clamp.

7. A winder as defined in claim 6 in which said air blast producing means is carried by and moves with said traveler and the blast is delivered to said tube through a nozzle which registers with and is disposed adjacent the end of said tube when said traveler reaches a predetermined positioi. in approaching the reserve bobbins.

8. A winder as defined in claim 6 including a catcher receiving the thread blown out of said tube and guiding such thread to said gripper.

9. A winder as defined in claim 8 in which said catcher is engageable with the blown out thread as it leaves said tube and acts on such thread to deflect the same laterally and guide it toward said gripper, and means for creating a vacuum in the region of said gripper to exert an endwise pull on the blown out thread at and beyond the gripper whereby to hold the thread entering the gripper along a predetermined straight path.

10. A winder as defined in claim 6 in which a catcher receives the thread blown out of said tube by said air blast and deflects the thread laterally away from the bobbin and to said gripper, the gripper, when open, having an opening 

1. The method of unwinding thread from a reserve bobbin in a multiple winder of the character described and hanging the thread in a clamp spaced from the nose of the bobbin, an unwound length of the thread being tucked downwardly into the bobbin core, said method including the steps of, a. directing a blast of air into the lower end of said core to blow the tucked-in end upwardly and out of the core, b. guiding the blown out thread to direct the same away from the bobbin along a predetermined path, c. subjecting the thread beyond the point of guiding to a vacuum exerting an endwise pull on the thread whereby to straighten out the thread and position the free length thereof along said path, d. gripping and holding the thread at a point spaced along said path from the bobbin, e. drawing the length of thread betwEen the bobbin and the gripping point laterally out of said path to unwind additional thread from the bobbin and form such thread into a generally Vshaped loop, f. depositing the leading leg of said loop into said clamp, and g. severing the thread at a point disposed between said gripping point and said clamp and near the latter.
 2. The method defined in claim 1 in which the force of said air blast as exerted on said thread is sufficient to carry the leading end of the blown out thread along said path and beyond said gripping point.
 3. The method as defined in claim 1 including the additional step of releasing the gripping force on said thread, and sucking the released end portion of thread out of the way after the severing of the loop.
 4. The method as defined in claim 3 including the step of enclosing, during drawing of said loop, the side of the loop between the gripping and drawing points, and subjecting the enclosed thread to a vacuum for drawing the cutoff portion of the thread out of the way upon release of the gripping force.
 5. The method as defined in claim 1 in which the suction force for drawing the blown out thread into said predetermined path is applied to the thread near said gripping point and is directed along a line including said gripping point and said path.
 6. For use in a multiple winder of the character described in which a traveler including a tying unit moves past winding units arranged side by side and services each idle winder to restart the winding of thread thereby from a reserve bobbin disposed in a stationary upwardly opening pocket disposed below a clamp in which an unwound length of the reserve thread may be hung, the combination of, means incorporated in each winding unit and holding said unwound thread in a predetermined position relative to the main mass of the bobbin including a tube within which at least part of said unwound thread is so disposed that all of such thread may be blown endwise out of one end of the tube, means for producing a blast of air and directing the same into the other end of said tube and through the latter against the thread therein with sufficient force to blow the thread endwise through and out of the tube, a gripper operable to receive and grasp the blown out thread at a point spaced from said main mass, and means engageable with the blown out thread between said main mass and said gripper and operable to draw such thread upwardly to and hang the same in said clamp.
 7. A winder as defined in claim 6 in which said air blast producing means is carried by and moves with said traveler and the blast is delivered to said tube through a nozzle which registers with and is disposed adjacent the end of said tube when said traveler reaches a predetermined position in approaching the reserve bobbins.
 8. A winder as defined in claim 6 including a catcher receiving the thread blown out of said tube and guiding such thread to said gripper.
 9. A winder as defined in claim 8 in which said catcher is engageable with the blown out thread as it leaves said tube and acts on such thread to deflect the same laterally and guide it toward said gripper, and means for creating a vacuum in the region of said gripper to exert an endwise pull on the blown out thread at and beyond the gripper whereby to hold the thread entering the gripper along a predetermined straight path.
 10. A winder as defined in claim 6 in which a catcher receives the thread blown out of said tube by said air blast and deflects the thread laterally away from the bobbin and to said gripper, the gripper, when open, having an opening therethrough for receiving the blown out thread from said catcher, means for exerting a vacuum at said opening for sucking the thread through said gripper and straightening the thread between said catcher and gripper, said loop drawing means engaging the straightened thread adjacent said gripper, and means acting after straightening of said thread to close said gripper and hold the same closed duRing the drawing of said loop.
 11. A winder as defined in claim 10 including a valve controlling the admission of said vacuum to said gripper opening and means operated substantially simultaneously with the closing and opening of said gripper to close and open said valve.
 12. A winder as defined in claim 10 including means movable with and fixed to the traveler and underlying said straightened thread at a point on the traveler ahead of said gripper to support the thread substantially at the level of said gripper.
 13. A winder as defined in claim 10 in which said gripper is spaced along the traveler path upstream from said bobbin when said air blast is applied to said thread and said loop drawing means engages the straightened thread at a point adjacent the gripper.
 14. A winder as defined in claim 9 in which said catcher comprises a trumpet-shaped member on the traveler having an outlet directed toward said gripper and an inlet disposed adjacent and opening toward the outlet end of said blow tube and registering with the latter when said traveler reaches a predetermined position in approaching a reserve bobbin.
 15. A winder as defined in claim 10 in which the internal wall of said catcher at the inlet end thereof converges to and communicates with the internal wall of the outlet end of the catcher, the latter wall extending transversely of the bobbin axis and opening endwise toward said gripper in substantial alignment therewith.
 16. A winder as defined in claim 10 in which said inlet of said catcher along the line of advance of the traveler is substantially wider than the outlet of said blow tube from which said unwound thread is blown by said air blast.
 17. A winder as defined in claim 15 in which the blown out thread, in the course of being drawn into said gripper, escapes from said member through a side slot extending throughout the length of the catcher between the inlet and outlet thereof.
 18. A winder as defined in claim 6 in which said air blast is derived from a source of compressed air carried by and movable with said traveler, a nozzle on said traveler adapted to register with said other end of said blow tube as the traveler approaches successive ones of said winders, a valve adapted when open to admit air from said source to said nozzle, and means timed in accordance with the movement of said traveler and operating to open said valve momentarily while said nozzle is in registry with the inlet end of the blow tube of each successive winding unit.
 19. A multiple winder as defined in claim 6 in which said means for holding and positioning the unwound thread of each reserve bobbin comprises the tubular core of the reserve bobbin with said unwound thread tucked downwardly into said core through the nose thereof when the bobbin is disposed in said pocket.
 20. A winder as defined in claim 18 in which said blow tube inlet is larger than said nozzle.
 21. A multiple winder as defined in claim 18 in which the outlet of said blow tube is mounted for movement into and out of alignment of its outlet with the lower end of the reserve bobbin, and including skewering means engageable with the lower end of said bobbin and operable after blowing of the thread out of the bobbin core to transfer the reserve bobbin laterally to winding position, and means operable during the skewering to move said blow tube outlet laterally and maintain the same out of said active position.
 22. A winder as defined in claim 21 in which said blow tube is laterally flexible to accommodate movement of its outlet end with said skewering means while the inlet end is fixed relative to the reserve bobbin pocket.
 23. A winder as defined in claim 6 in which said loop drawing means comprises a swingable arm having a thread pickup device on its free end and mounted on the traveler to swing upwardly between a lower position in which said device is engageable with the straightened thread adjacent said gripper to an upper position spaced inwardly from but upstream of said clamp of the associated winding unit, said arm, in swinging from said lower to said upper position, drawing the thread between said bobbin and the closer gripper into an inverted generally V-shaped loop having leading and trailing legs extending downwardly from said pickup device to the bobbin and gripper respectively.
 24. A winder as defined in claim 23 in which the throat of said clamp faces upstream of the traveler path and said leading leg of the loop is disposed opposite said throat so as to enter the latter as the traveler advances, means on the traveler for opening said clamp as said leading thread leg enters the throat and closing the clamp when the thread is disposed in the open clamp, and means on said traveler operable after gripping of the thread by said clamp to sever the thread of the loop near and above the clamp and thereby leave said leading leg hanging in the clamp as the traveler advance continues.
 25. A winder as defined in claim 24 in which said thread severing means includes a shear having coacting blades defining a throat facing outwardly and laterally of the traveler path and positioned on the traveler to receive said leading leg of said loop as said arm comes to said upper position, and a stop engageable with the thread entering the throat of said shear and locating the thread for entry into the throat of said clamp.
 26. A winder as defined in claim 25 including a member movable inwardly relative to the path of said leading leg during drawing of said loop and engageable with such thread leg at a point spaced below the level of said clamp, and means operable after the bight of said loop has been raised above said last-mentioned member to move the latter inwardly relative to the traveler and bend the upper part of said leading leg into the plane of said clamp throat for entry therein in the continued advance of the traveler.
 27. A winder as defined in claim 25 including a guide movable transversely of the traveler path and during the initial part of the loop drawing to engage the leading thread leg at a point spaced above the nose of the bobbin, and means on the traveler operable after the leading loop leg has been extended above said guide to move the latter toward the axis of said bobbin so as to provide for free unwinding of thread upwardly from the bobbin during the drawing of said loop.
 28. A winder as defined in claim 24 in which said pickup device comprises a hook on the end of said arm shaped to engage said straightened thread as said arm reaches said lower position and pick up the thread and draw the same upwardly as the arm starts to swing upwardly.
 29. A winder as defined in claim 28 in which said hook is generally V-shaped and extends transversely of and opens toward the end of said arm.
 30. A winder as defined in claim 28 in which said pickup device includes a projection rigid with said arm opposite said hook and cooperating with the free end of the hook to guide the end of said straightened thread to the hook opening during the approach of the hook to said lower position.
 31. A winder as defined in claim 23 including a vacuum chamber carried by and movable with the traveler, and means, operable during upward swinging of said arm for guiding part of the trailing leg thereof into said chamber whereby such leg is sucked out of the way.
 32. A winder as defined in claim 31 in which said chamber extends along the path of drawing of said trailing leg and is adapted to receive such leg in the course of drawing the loop.
 33. A winder as defined in claim 31 in which a slot in a wall of said chamber along the path of drawing of said trailing loop leg is slotted to receive at least a part of said thread by the time said loop is fully drawn.
 34. A winder as defined in claim 23 in which said gripper is actuated to release said thread before said arm completes the upward drawing of said loop and including suction means for exerting on the released and trailing leg of the threaded loop a force which maintains the full length of the thread of the loop taut during positioning of the leading leg thereof in said clamp.
 35. A winder as defined in claim 9 including means operable as an incident to closing of said gripper to cut off that portion of the blown out thread which extends a predetermined distance beyond said gripper whereby such portion is sucked out of the way.
 36. A multiple winder as defined in claim 6 in which said means for holding and positioning the unwound thread of each reserve bobbin includes a tube through which said air blast is directed outwardly toward said catcher, said tube being fixed relative to the bobbin pocket and having intermediate its ends a side opening for receiving a length of the unwound thread with such length disposed within the tube in the path of said air blast, and an auxiliary clamp fixed relative to said pocket for receiving and gripping the free end of the thread after the latter has been unwound from the main mass, laid across said tube and in said opening, and led into said auxiliary clamp.
 37. A winder as defined by claim 36 in which the end portion of said tube outwardly beyond said opening is formed with an open-ended slot through which said thread escapes while being blown through the tube.
 38. A winder as defined in claim 37 in which said auxiliary clamp is spring closed and including means on the traveler engageable with a part of said auxiliary clamp to cam the latter open and release the thread end simultaneously with the delivery of the air blast through said tube.
 39. A winder as defined in claim 37 in which said tube opening defines an upwardly opening notch and said auxiliary clamp is spaced downstream from the tube to permit the unwound thread to be led to the clamp after being drawn upwardly from the bobbin and moved laterally over the top of the tube through said notch and toward the clamp. 